KUALA LUMPUR, SEPT 22 – Malaysian police say they have arrested hundreds of suspects as part of an investigation into a case of child abuse at a nursing home run by an Islamic conglomerate.
In what is believed to be the worst case of its kind to hit the country in decades, police said yesterday they had arrested 355 people, including religious studies teachers and caretakers, and rescued more than 400 children.
The focus of this investigation is the Global Brotherhood Service and Business (GISB) group, which has long been controversial due to its links with the banned Al-Arqam group.
Police said they had arrested the head of GISB, Nasiruddin Ali, along with 30 other gang members after raiding several premises, including welfare homes, businesses and religious schools.
Last Tuesday, Malaysian Police Chief Razarudin Husain said authorities had frozen 96 accounts linked to the group containing about US$124,000 and seized eight vehicles.
GISB initially denied the allegations, insisting that they did not operate the raided nursing homes in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan.
However, in a video uploaded to the company’s Facebook page last week, chief executive Nasiruddin admitted ‘one or two cases of sodomy’ had taken place at the shelter, while denying allegations of widespread abuse. – AFP
